1️- Travel between home and work. 2️- Car expenses for transporting bulky tools or equipment, unless they’re required to do your job, your boss needs you to transport them, and there’s nowhere to store them at work. 3️- Car expenses that have been salary sacrificed. 4️- Meal expenses for travel, unless you were required to work away from home overnight. 5️- Private travel. Taking a work trip that includes personal travel? Claim the work-related portion only. 6️- Everyday clothes you wear to work (eg a suit or black pants). To legitimately claim a uniform, it needs be unique and distinctive. 7️- Higher education contributions charged through the HELP scheme. 8️- Self-education expenses if the study doesn’t have a direct connection to your current job. 9️- Private use of phone or internet expenses. 10- Up-front deductions for tools and equipment that cost more than $300. You’ll need to spread these deduction claims over a number of years.

If you have questions about your claims, be sure to bring your receipts along to your appointment, and your accountant will confirm for you.

It is also a common misconception that all tax returns must be lodged by 31 October 2017. That is only true if you have previous outstanding years to be lodged! Otherwise you have until 15 May 2018 for one of our friendly accountants at Wards to assist you in completing your return.